Apparatus for separating solid particles from each other.



PATENTED SEPT. 3, 1907. P. S MAOQUISTEN. SEPARATING SOLID PARTICLES FR 0M EACH OTHER.

APPARATUS FOR APPLICATION FILED MAB. 17,1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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wnu asses Ua/uu/ No. 865,195. PATENTED SEPT. S, 190? A P. MAGQUISTEN.

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING SOLID PARTIOL ES FROM EACH OTHER APPLICATION FILED MAR. 17

2 $HBETS-SHEET 2 WITH ESSES 'f/Uczr such particles, and is more particularly designed for the of such property, be separated by flotation from those which are not, and which therefore sink into the body of the liquid. Thus when the particles of a suitable pulverized mineral-bearing ore, immersed in water or other liquid and mixed so as toforin a pulp, are caused verse hanging partitions n which prevent continuous.

erous particles constituting the concentrates can then be floated away, by causing a surface current, for ex- Fig. 7 shows in side and fiont elevation the air nozzle fact that some substances, when conveyed through the .Unranp STATES PATENT curios.

ARTHUR. P. STANLEY MAUQUISTEN, OF GLASGOW, SCOTLAND.

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING SOLID PARTICLES FROM EACH OTHER.

Specification of Letters Patent. 7 Application filed March 17,1906 Serial No. 506,588.

No. 865,195. Patented Sept. 3, 190?.

To all whom it may concern: I about its axis, which may be horizontal or slightly in- Beit known thatI, ARTHUR P. SrANLEYMAc ursrnN, clined thereto. The feed end of the vessel is partially of Glasgow, Scotland, N. B., have invented certain i closed to enable a suitable depth of liquid to be mainnew and useful Apparatus for Separating Solid Partitained, while the delivery end opens into a tank (I with cles from Each Other, of which the following isa specithe Wall of which it makes is. liquid-tight joint. fication, reference being'had to theaccompanying draw- Part or the Whole of the edge of the tank a is at the ing, forming a part of the specification, in which-- liquid level and constitutes a'weir over which a coo Figure l is a side elevation of my apparatus partly in i tinuous stream passes toth'e launder e. Preferably, in sectionf Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof; Figs. 3, 4 I order to facilitate the passage of the liquid-borne parand 5 are sectional views of various forms of the cylinticles over the weir, an annular channel f is provided drical separating device; Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional i round its inner edge, supplied with liquidunder presview of the cylinder, showing the means employed for i sure and-having a suitable narrow opening round its directing air currents on the surface of the liquid; and upper edge by which such liquid is directed towards and over the lip of the weir.

The launder is connected by a pipe 9 with a settling tank it which in turn is connected by pipe 1' with a collecting bah k for the liquid which is thence pumped to the elevated storage tank 722., whence it passes gravita- -tionally through a suitable regulating cock to the 11opper a to be used over again.

which I preferably employ for this purpose.

My invention relates to an apparatus for separating solid particles of different characters in a mixture of separation of the metalliierous particles from the gangue of crushed or finely divided ore.

The principle which underlies my invention'is the lar manner to the original mixture of ore and liquid in surface of a liquid, are more readily retained at or on a second separating vessel I) situated at a lowe level, that surface than other substances, due totheir differ into which the material. is fed, by the pressure of the ent surface affinities for liquid, and that consequently superincumbent liquid, through-a pipe extending to in a mixture of such substances those which are more i the bottom of the tank I]. The material passes from the readily retainedat or' on the surface can, on account vessel b to a tank d over-the edge-of which the liquidborne particles and the liquid fall into the laiindcrf, whence it is conveyed by pipe to the settling tank It. A pipe 2" connects the tank y with thecollecting tank k.

The tanks h and k are preferably provided witlrtransveyer or other means, the metallic or metalliferous of the solid particles, the deposit being collected from particles, if of suitable size, will be retained at the liqthe tanks at suitable intervals, or removed by conuid surface by the tension of the surface film, while the veyers or other suitable means.

gangue will not be so retained. The separating vessels 1), b may be arranged in batteries, as shown in Fig. 2, and if necessary more than two so of these may be employed.

The rotation of the separating vessels brings the 'rnixture of nietalliferous particles and gangue supported thereby up through the liquid surface, where they become subject to the action of capillary forces with the result that the rnetalliferous particles are The separtcd metallifto pass through the surface of such liquid by a con surface streams along the tanks and assist the deposit ample, and collected or deposited in any convenient manner, while the gangue is otherwise dealt with.

The water or other liquid which is utilized in the processmay have its properties modified in respect of surl'acc tension or capillarity, particularly in regard to the 'mineral matter to be separated, by means of any effective chemical or physical agency, or substances or away with the stream, whereas the ganguc particles matter may beadded to or dissolved in the liquid with i slide back and again subside in the liquid. As the the object of: modifying or altering the chemical or I particles emcr above the surface of the liquid, physical conditions of the surface of the particles to be I owing to the s .ep angle at which they are carried I separated, or the material to be treated may be sub jectcd to a prior 'treatmontlwith the same object.

In the arrangement shown, the crushed inetalliferous ore or pulp is led into a hopper a which conveys it, together with the water or other liquid through whose to float, this operation being Qll'cctcil very often and agency the separation is effected, into a cylindrical I so gently by the rotation of the cylinder that a very vessel 5 suitably mounted as on rollers c to be rotated i thorough separation takes place. Theliquid stream they roll back upon and over lllO ascending mass, so that fresh nictalliferous particles are rcpeatedl y The contents of the tank 11 may be treated in a si1ni which is greater than the angle of repose of the mass,

exposed to the action of the surface and are caused thereby retained at the surface of the liquid and float flowing through the vessel carries both classes of particles with it, the one on the surlace and the'other in the body of the liquid, the

latter being collected in a suitable vessel as described, .and the former being deposited in another vessel by agitation of the particles or the liquid or other Bil-H liquid to the surface of the separating vessel, or the tilin of liquid covering it, are'carried round and returned to the liquid level, and in the process of sulunergencc the metallil'erous particles are floated oil by the stream, while the gangue particles are carried downwards or subside into the body of the liquid. I

'lhe el'l'ectiYe surface of the separating vessel may be increased by forming it with internal corrugations. and it these are spirally ar1'anged,'thcy serve to convey the submerged particles bodily through the \cssel. 'lhusFigJfl shows a separating vessel having an internal scre\\'-thrcad: Fig. i a spiral coil inside the Vessel and Fig. 5 a spiral corrugation. Further, it is obvious that any suitable mechanical device may be used tor the purpose of bringing the particles up to or through the liquid surface. v

The pulverized material may be first classiiied into conveniently graded products, which are then separately treated as above described, or the smaller mineral particles are iirst separated according to the proccss oi the present invention, 1caviug the coarser particles to bedealt with in any suitable known manner.

The surl'acestream may be accelerated by suitable 111eans, such as by directing an air-blast along its surface in the direction of travcL. Such an airangement is shown in Figs. 6 and 7, in which nozzles o presenting narrow horizontal slits or orilices 0 close to the surface of the. liquid in the vessel b and directed substantially in the direction of the stream of flow of the liquid, communicate with a supply-pipe p leading to any suitable. source of compressed air and having a valve or rock by which the jets of air,1nay be regulated to produce any desired velocity oi current.-

Usually water would be employed as the separating agent in the case of inctallii'erous ores, but obviously any liquid may be substituted thcrcloi. which has tho suitable constitution onproper'tics to cil'cct. thc separation in the lnanncr herein described or the properties of the water or other liquid with respect to its surface tension or capillarity may be modiiied by the addition of a suitable acid, or alkali or soluble salt or other ubstance. The surface condition oi the. parin a transverse direction ticles to be separated may be modified or altered Fri? suitable treatment with active chemicals which will attack the surface of the particles. inany case, however, the mixed particles are brought together through the liquid surface and the separation is effected at the surtace by the molecular forces within the range of which the particles are thus brought and by virtue of which'soine particles are maintained suspended ator on the. liquid surface lilm while others are not-:

The liquid surface may be the suriace of separation between the liquid and a gas, vapor '2. liquid, and

would in general be the surface between the liquid and air. i

ll'iyapparatns as shown in the drawing may be modified in many respects by those skilled in the art, both as to form number and arrangement of the parts, the essential feature being the. provision of a support istatable in contact with a. body of liquid and passing through the surface of the liquid in such direction as to carry the particles thcrethrough and to eause'them to roll back to'tlie surface of the liquid.

I claim: Y

1. Means for sepa rat in; a mixture of finely divided particles or ore. comprisingaeylimier arranged to rotate in ,t-ontact with a lItHi oi liquid said cylinder passing through the surface f the li uid in 'sneh dir'cction as to carry the particles tlu-retluough and to cause them to roll back to the surl'at-e ot' the liquid, said cylinder having a ribbed interior surface.

2. Means for separating a mixture of finely divided particles of ore comprising :1 cylinder; ranged to rotatedn contact with a body of liquid-said cylinder passing through the s i of the li uid in such direction as to carry the particles therelhroueh and to caust them to roll hack to the surface of the liquid, said cylinder having a heiiealiy i-ilihctl interior surface It. Means for sepai line a mixture of finely divided parlicles oi ore. comprising a support [or said particles arranged to more in contact with a body of liquid, said support passing through the surface of the'liquid in such direction as to carry the particles therethrough and to means for creating a surface current oi the liquid.

-l. Means for separating a mixture of iinel divided particles of ore. comprising: a support for-said particles ar ranged to move in contact with a body ot"liquid, said support' passing tliri'iugh the surface of the liquid in such direction as to carry the particles therethrough and to cause them to roll back to the surtace of the liquid, and inea s for -eatin e; a surface current of the liquid. said means consisting o1 hlast devicesby which a current of air is projected over the surface of the liquid. 1

In testimony whereof. l have hereunto "set my hand.

A. l. STANLEY MACQUISTEN.

cause them to roll back to the surface of the liquid, and I 

